Method of aligning the truck axles and of assembling truck supported load carrying structures



M. G. HILPERT oct. 25, 1982.

METHOD OF ALIGNING THE TRUCK AXLES AND OF ASSEMBLING TRUCK SUPPORTED LOAD CARRYING STRUCTURES Original Filed Sept. 2l, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet gva/wanton SQ N Meier GeolgeHipt,

Oct, 825, 1932. M. G. HILPERT METHOD OF ALIGNING THE TRUCK AXLES AND OF ASSEMBLING TRUCK SUPPORTED LOAD CARRYING STRUCTURES Original Filed Sept. 2l, 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 OO'OOO OOOOO OGOOO oct. 25, 1932. M. G, HV|| PERT 1,884,689

METHOD OF ALIGNING THE TRUCK AXLES AND OF ASSEMBLING TRUCK SUPPORTED LOAD CARRYING STRUCTURES Original Filed Sept. 2l. 1927 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 31 gva/vanto@ Mel'r GeoeH/yaer,

Elk/taiwan@ Patented Oct. 25, 1932 UNITED STATES MEIER G. HILIERT, F BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA METHOD OF ALIGNING THE TRUCK AXLES .AND 0F ASSEMBLING- TRUCK SUPPORTED LOAD CARRYING STRUCTURES Urignal application led September 21, 1927, Serial No. 221,120. Patent No. 1,831,112, dated November 10, 1931. Divided and this application filed May 14, 1931. SieraL No. 537,471.

This invention relates to separated moving or turning trunnions and truck supported load carrying structures such as bridge cranes of different types, movable gantry or loading and unloading bridges, transfer tables, turntables, and Wherever there are separated moving or turning trunnions to be exactly alined, as in trunnion bridges, car dumpers and the like, and has particular reference to 1o a novel method of securing true alignment of separated trunnions and of the supporting axles of the truck elements of such structures under full or approximately full working load to assure free and easy rolling of the truck wheels on their related track rails, thereby to obtain longevity of the structure as an entirety and to reduce the maintenance costs thereof, and in particular to secure longevity and to reduce the maintenance costs of the heavily loaded truck bearings, all as fully disclosed in my prior applica tion, Serial Number 221,120 filed September 21, 1927 and patented November 10, 1931, No.

1,831,112, of which the present application is a division.

In the accompanying drawings which are illustrative of one practical manner of performing the invention Figure 1 is a top planview of a truck supported girder type crane the trucks of which are adapted to be aligned in accordance with the present method.

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view illustrating the use of the instruments employed in aligning the trucks of the crane shown in Fig. 1 according to the present method.

Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the crane shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and illustrating one of the steps of the present method.

Figure 4; is an end elevation of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the trucks operatively connected with the load supporting structure.

Figure 6 is a transverse section on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through a telescope element employed in 50 practicing the present method.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section and an end view of a cross-hair element for use in conjunction with the telescope element in performing the present method; and

Figure 9 is a longitudinal section and an end view of a sight member adapted for use with the telescope and cross-hair elements illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, respectively.

As the crane structure illustrated in Figs.

1 to f1 of the drawings is described in detail 60 in my prior application, Serial No. 221,120 heretofore mentioned, it is deemed to be unnecessary to illustrate or to described in the present application any more of said structure than is required for a clear understanding of the steps employed in practicing the present method.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be observed that the crane structure illustrated is inclusive of a load carrying structure designated generally as A comprising parallel load `carrying girders 10, 10 which are connected together by cross members 11 and also by top plates 12, and spaced bottom plates 13, 13 which extend transversely across `75 the girders 10 and project laterally beyond the outer sides of said girders to receive therebetween the load supporting trucks designated generally as B. That is to say,accord ing to the particular crane structure illustrated in this instance, a plate 12 and a pair of the plates 13, 13 are disposed at each end of the load carrying structure A, and a load supporting truck B is disposed between the projecting ends of said plates at each side of said load carrying structure at each end thereof.

Each truck B is inclusive of a pair of spaced pedestal elements b, b of substantially duplicate construction, each of which is inclusive of a pair of side plates 14, 14 between the upper, lower and outer marginal edge portions of which are disposed the inwardly directed flanges of upper, lower and outer pairs of angle iron members 15, 15, 16, 16 and 95 17, 17, respectively, and between the inner marginal edge portions of which are disposed a pair of vertically extending plates 18, 18. The respective pairs of angle iron members are disposed with their inwardly 100 directed flanges in face to face abutting relation and with their outer flanges extending laterally outward relative to the plates 14, 14 and said angle iron members are secured permanently and rigidly between said side plates by suitable fastening means such as rivets 19. On the other hand, the vertically extending plates 18, 18 are secured between the side j a supporting-'wheel 23, the sai dbearing housings being secured in the central openings of the respective pairs of plates 14, 14 by means of bolts 24 which extend through openings in said plates and through laterally eXtendin g apertured lugs 25 formed on said bearing housings; To hold the two pedestal elements b, 7) of each vtruck B'tempor'arily connected together in properly spaced relation and against rotation relative to one another prior to mounting the truck between the plates 12 and 13, 13 of the load supporting structure A, the said pedestal elements are connected together by a beam or the like 26 bolted against the lateral flanges of the outer angle iron members 17,17 of said pedestal elements, and bolts 27 are inserted in lieu of the bolts 24temporarily through the lugs 25 of the bearing housing and threaded at their inner ends into threaded apertures provided in the wheel 23, springs 28 preferably being interposed between said wheel and the respective pedestal elements to hold the latter properly separated.

Riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to the outer sides of the girders 10Y at each end of the.

load supporting structure A are spaced pairs of vertically disposed angle iron members 29, 29 which have relatively narrowoutwardly directed flanges 30, 30 with which the respective pairs of plates 18, 18 of the trucks B are adapted toalign when the trucks are operatively disposed between the crane plates 12 and 13, 13.

In view of the foregoing it is apparent that the trucks B are adapted to be arranged in pairs at each side of the load carrying struc-- ture A with the shafts 22 o-f each pair of trucks disposed horizontally and longitudinally with respect to the load carrying structure, and in alignment with each other, whereby the truck wheels are adapted. to travel over parallel track rails designated as 31, 31. Y i

In carrying out the present shaft aligning method, the load supporting structure A first is subjected in any suitable manner to an actual or artificial load approximating the normal load that the structure is designed to vtioned for wheel tread centers,I if for parallel carry in service, whereby the said load carrying structure is stressed and deflected corresponding substantially to the stresses and deflections that are developed therein when the structure is normally loaded in service. This loading of the structure A may be effected in the factory or in the shop by blocking up the ends of said main structure indicated at 32a 3 and 4) by rigid blocks to take the part and place of the supporting rails about which the main structure or girders would deflect when in service, and imposing-downward pressure upon said structure by means of a suitable jack apparatus designated generally as 33 in said figures. Auxiliary adjustable bloclrings 32b are placed for the independent and partially adjustable support of the ltrucks B, B.

The truck assemblies are positioned between the projecting end portions Vof the plates 12 and 13, 13 either prior to or at the loading of the structure In either event said truck units as vassembled areiirst posirails, at the proper track gage and at the proper distances from members 10-10 and square with said membersso that'the crane will travel true to the track. 1f for a lcircular rail, the truck assemblies are placed atl the proper radial distance and at the proper' distances from members 10-10 so that turntable trucks will Afollow a true circle. Said firstpositioning may be effected by moving assemblies in any suitable'manner between,v

plates'12 and 13, 13 and toward or from the structure A and when completed the outer edges of the respective pairs of plates 18, 18 will approximately align with and nearly abut with the ed ges of the outwardly directed Y flanges 3,0, 30 of the angle iron members 29,

29, it being pointed out in this connection that the spacing of the ybottom or tension plates 13, 13 provides for the accommodation of the truck wheels 23 between said plates whereby thel trucks are readily movable to their said first positions relative to the structure A and whereby the wheels 23 may extend below the' structure A for engagement with 'the track rails 31, 31. f l 1 This first positioning can only approXi--' mate the alignment ofthe axles since the stiffness of the plates 12 and 13, 13 would tend to incline the aXleswith the deflections of the loaded crane and incline the inner ends of said axles downwardly' so that the vwheels* would tread on the inner or near edges of the rails and any shafting connections to such inclined aXles would be out of line and tothat extent inoperative.' Hence the necessity of the precision alignment of the coacting axles' "f' under conditions vof exact or approximate loading of the crane.

It will be noted that the truck axles or shafts 22 are vprovided with through. axial bores 34, and vby particular reference to Fig.

2 of the drawings it will be noted that the precision method of aligning the shaft or axles of the pair of trucks at each side of the structure A involves in the instant case the use of the instruments illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings, viz., a telescope element inclusive of a two-part telescopically adjustable barrel 35 containing lenses 36, a cross hair tube 37, and a sight tube 38 inclusive of a finger 39 having a small aperture 40 disposed axially of the tube.

The tubes of the instruments mentioned are formed to lit snugly in the axial bores 34 of the truck shafts or axles 22, and in accordance with the inv-ention of the telescope element 35 is fitted into the outer end of th bore of one of the truck axles, the cross hair tube 37 is fitted into the inner end of the bore of the same axle, and the sight tube is fitted preferably into the outer end of the axle bore of the related truck at the same side but at the opposite end of the structure A. By then sighting through the telescope element and adjusting the coasting axle or trunnion bores to a transit line by bringing the intersection of the cross hairs of the element 37 into alignment with the aperture 40 of the tube 3S it is manifest that the true alignment of the axles and bearings and pedestals, 7) all as rigidly assembled may readily be effected by adjusting the wedges of bloclzings 32h-32h and the use of liners as may be necessary between pedestals b, l) and plates 13-13 as indicated at 44 in Fig. 3, and when this f' has been done, and while the structure A is maintained loaded, the plates 18-18 are. welded securely for the full share of their proportion of the crane loads to the projecting flanges 30, 3() of the angle iron members 29, 29 as indicated at 41. Thus, the trucks are connected with the structure A with the truck axles truly aligned while the structure A is loaded, but not necessarily with the lateral flanges of the upper and lower angle iron members 15, 15 and 16, 16 in engagement with the under and upper faces of the plates 12 and 13, 13, respectively, since the adjustment of the trucks to obtain alignment of their axles may have resulted in spacing of either the upper or the lower or both the upper and the lower angle iron members from the related plates 12 and 13, 13. Accordingly, either before or after making the welds' 41, permanent shims or liners, may, as necessary or desirable, be placed between the plates 12 and the lateral fianges of the upper angle iron members 15, 15 and between the plates 13,13and thelower angle iron members 16, 16, and thereafter bolt holes are formed in the plates 12 and 13, 13 for alignment with bolt holes previously formed in the lateral flanges of the upper and lower angle iron members. It is to be noted that the attachment of angle iron members 29, 29 to members 10 is to be such as to allow of sufficient extension in an outward direction in the vicinity of plates 13, 13 as to impose little or no tension in the welds 41, 41 when the plates 13, 13 are placed in tension and thus the welds 41 will be subjected to shear only a desired arrangement in welded work.

If the foregoing operations are carried out at the place where the crane structure is to be used, bolts 42 are employed to connect the angle iron members 15, 15 and 16, 16 with the plates 12 and 13, 13 respectively, to adapt the structure for service. On the other hand, if the axle aligning operations are performed in the shop and the crane is adapted to be shipped with the trucks B thereof disassembled from the load carrying structure for erection in the field, the bolts 20 are removed following the welding operation so as to permit the plates 18, 18 to remain as parts of the load carrying structure A and to permit removal of the trucks. Thus, when the trucks are again assembled with the load carrying structure in the field, the replacing of the bolts 20 and the employment, if necessary, of shims or liners as determined by the shop aligning operations, automatically results in the axles of the replaced trucks being aligned. Likewise if for shipping clearances it is desirable, then plates 12 and 13, 13 may be removed from the structure 10-11, 10-11 for laterally assembling with the trucks when placing the crane in final position.

Following bolting of the trucks to the plates 12 and 13, 13, the trucks at the opposite ends of the structure preferably are connected together by plates and to the main structure by brace elements 43 bolted against the lateral flanges of the outer angle iron plates 17, 17. The temporary holding bolts 27 heretofore mentioned are then removed and replaced by the permanent holding bolts 24, whereupon the structure is adapted for service.

Due to the alignin of the truck axles while the structure is subjected to a substantially normal load, it follows that the axles may tend toward slight disalignment when the structure unloaded. This is relatively unimportant however, since maximum wear occurs when the structure is loaded. Thereafter, due to the alignment of the axles when the structure is loaded, it follows that the same will possess long life and that the maintenance cost thereof will be correspondingly reduced.

Obviously, instead of employing pairs of angle iron members 29, 29 and pairs of the plates 18, 18, single members to all intents and purp-rrz-ses the equivalents of said angle irons and plate may be employed. Furthermore, in lieu of the particular instruments illustrated in. 7 to 9 for effecting alignment of the axles, any other suitable instruments or means may be employed, for example, a surveyors transit telescope plus a special target having refiected or special illumination on same, or a projected ray of light from a beam focusing flash light-with barrel of proper diameter to fit snugly the shaftbore plus transparent tar- .gets for cooperation in the other shaft bore where the observations as to alignment would then be made. Moreover, while a crane of a specific type has been illustrated in the present instance, it is apparent that the present method is equally as capable of use to align the trunnions of various other types of similar structures whether the trunnions are disposed parallel or radially with respect to the load carrying structure, whether the trunnions move forward as truckaxles or turn in bearings in the case of loaded stationary machines and whether the shafts turn or are fixed and must be exactly aligned'in their loaded relation. From the nature of the axle, trunnion, or shaft alignment here set forth, it is evident that any alignment when once made may be quickly checked when making final attachments as when welding L,ll-l1 or may be checked as to the effects of various loadings or other operative conditions and to this end all closed bearing Vcaps '21a-2la areV provided with central openings, larger than the axle alignment bore and with plugs l--l as closures therefore, likewise allintermediate or endfto end connecting shafts and/or couplings are of pipe or hollow construction so as not to interfere with the sighting alignment method. Thus a rapid check may be made by removing plugs l5-l5 and inserting the sighting telescope and displaying a target at any point in the bore of the aligned and coacting axle, the aligning requirements being that the aligning means or instrument be true, that its outer diameter snugly lit the axle, trunnion or shaft bore, preferably a standard bore, or diameter to takeY a standard instrument and that the means has the power to project the cross hairs or other centering plane on the target in the distant coacting axle trunnion or'shaft, and that the bores through the axles, trunnions, or shafts be truly central thereof which is easily had by revolving both the member and the tool when drilling said bore.

The precision alignment method here described as applied to the exact alignment of two coacting shafts is in the same manner applicable to a series of' aligned and coacting shafts, also by the alignment of a single shaft to a iixed mark on the structure or on a foundation this method affords a simple way of first alining such single shaft to a required set up and latterly of repeatedly checking constancy of the set up in use.

By following the alignment procedure step by step it will `be evident that, should shop practice desire, a shop jig may be employed to align pedestals b, Z) and thus trucks B, B and therefore the axles or shafts, providing the jigis an exact and rigid `dummy unit of housings 21, 21 andthe shaft 22 including a standard axial bore in said dummy. Thus, the trucks may be completely aligned to structure by jigs, the jigs removed, and the crane later assembled with its permanent bearings and axles in proper alignment for efficient operation.

vWithout further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim l. The method of aligning a pair of spaced axles which consists in forming axial bores through the axles, sighting through said bores by means of suitable instruments, and adjusting one or the other or both of said axles until they are brought into alignment as determined by the sight taken through their bores.

2. The method of aligning a pair of spaced axles which consists in forming axial bores lthrough the axles, inserting sighting means into said bores, sighting through said sighting means, and ladjusting one or the other or both of the axles until they are brought into alignment as determined by the sight taken through said sighting means.

3. The method of assembling the trucks of a truck supported load carrying structure with the load carrying frame of such structure which consistsl in subjecting the load carrying frame to a substantially normal load and connecting the trucks with the frame while the latter is loaded.

4. The method of assembling the trucks of 'a truck supported load carrying structure with the load carrying frame of such structure which consists in subjecting the load vcarrying frame to a substantially normal.

load, aligning the axles of certain of the trucks with each other, Iand then while the truck axles are aligned connecting the trucks with theframes while the latter are loaded.

5. The method of assembling the trucks of a truck supported load carrying structure with the load carrying frame of such structure which consists` in detachably mounting a securing member on each truck, subjecting the load carrying frame to a substantially normal load, aligning the trucl; axles, and then permanently connecting the securing members of the respective trucks with the load carrying frame while the latter is loaded and while the truck axles are aligned.

6. The method of assembling the trucks of a truck supported load carrying structure with the load carrying frame of such structure which consists in forming axial bores through the truck axles, subjecting the load carrying frame to a substantially normal the load, engaging sighting instruments in the bores of the truck axles and valigning the axles by means of said sighting instruments, and then connecting the trucks With the frame While the latter is loaded and While the truck axles are aligned.

7. The method of assembling the trucks of a truck supported load carrying structure with the load carrying frame of such structure Which consists in forming axial bores through the truck axles, subjecting the load carrying frame to a substantially normal load, detachably mounting a securing member on each truck, aligning the truck axles by sighting through the bores thereof, and then permanently connecting the securing members of the respective trucks to the load carrying frame While the latter is loaded and While the truck axles are aligned.

8. The method of 'aligning coacting members which consists in forming holes through the members and aligning through said holes.

9. The method of aligning coacting members Which consists in forming holes through members and aligning by sighting through said holes.

l0. The method of aligning coacting shafts which consists in forming axial holes through the shafts and `aligning through said holes.

l1. The method of aligning spaced shafts which consists in forming axial holes through the shafts and aligning through said holes.

l2. The method of aligning coacting shafts which consists in forming axial holes through the shafts and aligning from the sides of said holes to a line projected through the axial holes.

13. The method of aligning coacting shafts Which consists in forming axial holes through the shafts, Iadjusting fitted instruments in said holes, and then projecting central alignment lines to which the shafns are aligned.

14C. The method of aligning eoaeting spaced shafts which consists in forming axial holes through the shafts, inserting fitted inu struments in said holes, and then aligning the shafts to lines through the center of said fitted instruments.

l5. The method of aligning spaced shafts which consists in forming axial holes through the shafts, inserting fitted instruments in said holes and sighting through the center of one fitted instrument to the center of the other as a target, and adjusting shafts until center of instruments align.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

MEIER G. HILPERT. 

